EMMITSBURG — Archbishop William E. Lori described the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s June 6 stop at the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as a “joyous” occasion.
The emotion was prevalent throughout the day as the national journey leading to the National Eucharistic Congress next month in Indianapolis paid tribute to the patron of the eastern part of the pilgrimage known as the Seton Route.
Archbishop Lori helped kick off the festivities in Emmitsburg with a morning Mass at the shrine followed by a Eucharistic procession through the Frederick County town of 6,000.
More than 1,100 participated in the Mass and procession, which was one of the largest gatherings of the pilgrimage, according to Seton Route spokesperson Kevin Shinkle.
Rob Judge, executive director of the Seton Shrine for the past 13 years, said it was the most well attended event at the shrine since Mother Seton’s canonization in 1975.
“What a blessing, what a grace,” Archbishop Lori said in his homily about the stop in Emmitsburg.
“When I originally heard the Seton Shrine would be one of the stops for the eucharistic pilgrimage, I was so, so happy,” Archbishop Lori said before Mass. “It’s the home of the first American-born Saint, Baltimore was the first diocese in the United States and Mount St. Mary’s (located in Emmitsburg) was the second seminary in the United States. So it’s very fitting.”
Read the full article on the Catholic Review here. | Banner image by Jeffrey Bruno